Gillard unmoved by NZ gay marriage vote

Prime Minister Julia Gillard says she won't be moved from her stance against gay marriage despite New Zealand passing legislation allowing same sex couples to tie the knot.

Asked by a member of the public at a community cabinet in Melbourne on Wednesday night why Australia lagged behind New Zealand in legalising gay marriage, Ms Gillard said she would not be changing her mind on the issue.

"I doubt we're going to end up agreeing," Ms Gillard said.

She told the community cabinet at Ringwood that Labor has allowed a conscience vote on the matter.

As Ms Gillard was speaking at Ringwood, a conscience vote in New Zealand parliament passed the Marriage (Definition of Marriage) Amendment Bill with a convincing 77-44 vote.

New Zealand is the 13th country to legalise gay marriage and the first in the Asia-Pacific.

Independent Sydney MP and gay rights activist Alex Greenwich said the vote showed the campaign for gay marriage was "unstoppable".